Maresias is known nationwide for its nightlife, but the same beach bars and clubs that host DJs after dark serve food and drinks by day with the surf as a backdrop. A day visit lets you soak up the atmosphere and scenery that make this stretch of coast famous, minus the late-night crowds.
Maresias sits about 200 km (124 miles) from São Paulo, reached via the Tamoios highway down the coastal mountains and the Rio-Santos road along the shore. The drive generally takes around 3 to 4 hours, longer on holiday weekends when this route is notorious for traffic. A private transfer lets a driver handle the mountain descent and coastal curves while you sit back for the ride.
Yes. The beach is compact and easy to walk end to end, so a day gives you time to settle in, swim or watch the surf at Canto do Moreira, grab a meal at a beachfront kiosk, and still head home relaxed. You get the best of Maresias without needing to pack an overnight bag.
A short drive from the beach leads to Boiçucanga's Ribeirão de Itu trail, a walk past three waterfalls through the Serra do Mar forest, or the Maresias-Paúba coastal path for panoramic ocean views. Travelers with extra time often add a stop toward Ilhabela, reachable by ferry, to combine more than one north coast highlight in a single day.
Maresias stretches roughly 5 km (3 miles) of sand between the villages of Boiçucanga and Paúba and ranks among Brazil's most respected surf beaches. Canto do Moreira, the point break at its eastern end, has hosted national and international competitions and helped shape the career of world champion surfer Gabriel Medina. Even non-surfers come for the wide beach, laid-back kiosks, and forested mountains rising right behind the sand.
Buses to the north coast run on fixed schedules and often require a transfer or drop you well outside the beach itself. Renting a car means navigating unfamiliar mountain roads and tolls on your own. A private transfer takes you door-to-door from São Paulo straight to Maresias on your own schedule, so your day is spent at the beach instead of figuring out transit.
